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The Brackenrigg Inn

North West England Cumbria Ullswater

From £180 a night
Seven en-suite guest rooms
Contemporary Coaching Inn

A revamped inn with rooms with oodles of character, overlooking Ullswater

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The Brackenrigg Inn's roots have always been entwined with the local Lake District community, but the watering hole was in need of a new lease of life – something nearby hotel Another Place, The Lake has provided since acquiring and renovating the pub. They reopened the doors in spring 2024, offering their take on a traditional country pub. The added bonus? Guests can use Another Place, The Lake's extensive facilities, including the swimming pool and Kids’ Zone.

That being said, The Brackenrigg Inn has plenty to attract you in its own right, including commanding views of Ullswater and the fells beyond, a welcoming bar, and a sun-trap terrace overlooking six acres of meadows. Style-wise, the focus is on locally sourced vintage furniture, Lakeland stories and literature, and making the most of original features – think roaring fireplaces, Chesterfield sofas, 100-year-old chairs, Persian rugs and brass details. But there's a contemporary feel too, thanks to patterned wallpaper and flashes of colour here and there.

And then, of course, there's the food: the varied menu spans salads, sandwiches and more substantial seasonal plates such as steak and ale pie, butternut squash linguine with crispy sage and toasted hazelnuts, and moules marinière. Come Sunday, be sure to book in for a hearty roast. The team's all about championing local producers, whether it's their trio of Cartmel Valley pigs in blankets with mustard mayo or Ploughman’s platter with Cumbrian speciality cheeses. Meanwhile, some ingredients come straight from the kitchen gardens.

Upstairs, there are seven en-suite bedrooms – six overlook the water and one has a bath/shower (the rest have showers). Choose from doubles, twins and a suite sleeping up to two adults and two children. Each is distinct, be it vibrant panelling, soothing earthy tones, or eye-catching handcrafted wallpaper made from the pages of Lake District books. Whichever you opt for, there are robes, land&water toiletries and tea- and coffee-making facilities, plus WiFi, a flat-screen TV and a Ruark Bluetooth radio. Oh, and all rooms are dog-friendly.

Just down the hill takes you to Another Place, The Lake, the inn's chic yet unstuffy sister hotel. There, you can enjoy wild swimming and paddleboarding from the jetty, an indoor pool, treatments, several restaurants and a supervised Kids’ Zone for children. Further afield, you'll find plenty more to keep you busy, whether it's setting off on an Ullswater Steamer, hiking seven miles from Howtown to Glenridding, or visiting Rheged – a creative space that's home to a gallery, café, cinema and shops. Then back to The Brackenrigg Inn to relax with a drink in the atmospheric bar.

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Facilities

It's worth noting there are plans for quiz nights and live music. Longer term, sights are set on re-establishing the pub’s microbrewery and tap room, creating an events meadow for summer dining, planting orchards, building a nature-inspired kid's play area, and even outdoor accommodation like shepherd's huts.

Open

Open all year.

Pricing

From £180 a night, including a full continental breakfast.

Dogs cost an additional £15 per night for one dog or £20 for two.

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